Suffice to say, at this point in the season Jeremy Hellickson needed to string together a good start. With all of the external factors effecting the probability of the Rays finding a postseason berth, compounded with the fact that Boston absolutely blew out the Tigers in an earlier game, the pressure was on Hellickson and the Rays to win. After a six start stretch where Hellickson relinquished (on average) 4.1 earned runs, while averaging only 4.1 innings per outing*, it would be safe to say that no one knew what we’d see out of Jeremy upon his return to the mound. But Hellickson came out of the fog Wednesday night, putting together a solid 5.1 inning shutout outing.
Tag Archives: Los Angeles Angels
The New What Next: Rays and Angels, A Four Game Set on the West Coast
awbreaker, the relatively famous melodic punk band from the 90’s, coined the phrase, “When it pains it roars.” I could be wrong, but I believe Blake, the former singer and guitarist of Jawbreaker, was referring to the Rays with his Nostradamus like prophecy. After all, the pain really is roaring at the moment following their three-game sweep at the hands A’s — a series in which Tampa Bay scored all of five runs (a 1.6 run per game average), converting only 19% of RISP situations. Mind you too, prior to their most recent — ill fated — series, the Rays came off a lackluster series against the Angels — who they’re facing this week. Tampa Bay wasn’t much better in their last series against the Angels, taking only one game while averaging three runs per game.
Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Drop Third Straight, 6-5
To put it bluntly, after the 11-1 debacle against the Royals Monday, and the subsequent demotion of Jeremy Hellickson today, Tampa Bay really needed a big performance out of Roberto Hernandez Tuesday night. And with the exceptions of a Mike Trout blast in the fourth, and an unlucky break in the seventh, a solid performance they got. Sadly, Hernandez’s best outing in some time went to waste after Fernando Rodney let another save slip away in the 6-5 loss to The The Angels Angels of Anaheim. The Rays start the day two-and-a-half games behind the Red Sox after Boston crushed the Orioles by a score of 13-2.
The New What Next: Rays vs. Angels, A Series Preview of Sorts
Oof… Just oof. The Rays return home on the heels of another big loss to the Royals. This time Tampa Bay got slammed 11-1, after Jeremy Hellickson put together a 2-2/3 inning, five run, outing. Cesar Ramos wasn’t much better in relief, relinquishing five runs in one inning. If someone can explain how a team, that was 20 games over .500, loses to a team that’s coming off a five game losing streak (a game removed, that is), I’m all ears. Moving forward, enter the Angels.
Looking Backward While Moving Forward; the I Don’t Wanna Talk About It Edition (including Rays vs Angels series preview)
Well, at least the Rays weren’t no-hit in perfect game fashion by Mark Buehrle or Dallas Braden this time around. And honestly, King Felix tossed a hell of a game. Talk about being dominant. The bulleted high and low-lights will be short this time around. It’s a damn shame that Jeremy Hellickson’s outing will largely …